Ron Yary is the only USC player to win the Outland Trophy, which goes to the outstanding interior lineman in the nation and is selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
Yary was a two-time All-American offensive tackle for the Trojans and was a unanimous All-American pick in 1967 when he won the Outland. That season he led the way for O.J Simpson. The first player picked in the 1968 draft, he was a perennial All-Pro tackle with the Minnesota Vikings and also played for the Los Angeles Rams.

In 1979, offensive guard Brad Budde became USC's first recipient of the coveted Lombardi Award, given to the nation's top college lineman who also "best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi."
Budde was an unanimous All-American as a senior and was also runnerup in the Outland Trophy voting. A four-year starter at Troy, he was the first freshman to start a USC season opener since World War II. The son of ex-Kansas City Chiefs' All-Pro Ed Budde, Brad followed his father there as the Chiefs' first-round draft pick in 1980.

As just a junior in 1989, free safety Mark Carrier became USC's first-ever winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's best defensive back. A two-time first team All-American, Carrier had 7 interceptions in 1989 (tied for 10th in the nation), plus 107 tackles, 3 fumbles recoveries and 10 pass deflections. A three-year starter with 13 career thefts, Carrier was a Thorpe semifinalist in 1988.

Middle linebacker Chris Claiborne was named USC's first recipient of the Butkus Award, given to college football's top linebacker, as a junior in 1998. The unanimous All-American first teamer was also selected as Football News' National Defensive Player of th Year and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1998 as he led USC in tackles (120), pass deflections(16) and interceptions(6) in 1998. He posted 312 tackles (27 for losses) as a 3-year starter.